Regardless of the level of automation on a production line, there will always be a place for human operators who have to deal with very heavy materials. The idea of implementing exoskeletons in high-demand environments is not new, but today we come across Robo-Mate, a prototype that can reduce the weight of a piece by up to ten times, protecting legs, arms, and torso in the process.
A Look Back at Heavy Work
To begin, a bit of history: One of the most disturbing details about the Middle Ages is that a worker became privileged if he reached the age of 30 or 35 with a healthy body. If disease, famine, war, or a harsher winter than usual didn't kill him first, daily heavy work probably would. Several centuries later, it's not only easier to protect oneself from the elements and fight diseases, but also to work with less risk. Heavy work gave way to heavy machinery, absorbing many tasks that were once done by pure muscle, but note that I said "less risk", not "no risk". Work-related injuries are as prevalent as ever, so many consider direct intervention of elements like robotics necessary. That led to the development of exoskeletons, which, besides having enormous potential in medical applications (for example, doing away with the wheelchair), protect the worker and allow them to do more on their own.
The Robo-Mate Project
The latest in exoskeletons is manifested through Fraunhofer IAO with the Robo-Mate project. Its presentation begins with data published by the Work Foundation Alliance of the United Kingdom: Nearly 44 million workers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders caused by the demands of the work environment. The capabilities of an exoskeleton like Robo-Mate could greatly reduce that number, both in repetitive activities and in actions that cannot be reproduced by a robot, such as replacing a car battery (almost all models place it in a different location) or completely disassembling an engine. Robo-Mate can reduce the weight of an object by up to ten times. Removing a car seat involves moving 15 kilograms of material, but with the intervention of Robo-Mate, it feels as if it weighed just 1.5 kilograms.
How Robo-Mate Works
Robo-Mate is composed of three modules: arms, legs, and torso. The arm module is the one responsible for reducing the weight of an object, the leg module stabilizes the thighs and helps when doing a task while squatting, and the torso module induces an upright posture, protecting the back and spine.
Challenges and Improvements
Now, while the prototype is functional, it still needs many adjustments. Personally, I would like to see extended protection for the hands and forearms, but its creators also mentioned that they need to work on the appearance of the exoskeleton and achieve a much more "contained" design.
Fraunhofer IAO
